Insight (Web of Hearts and Souls #1)(15)

Monica called, saying she would be there around eleven instead of noon. We were going to pick up Hannah, Jessica, and Olivia. After packing my bags, I dressed for the lake, covering my burgundy bikini with a black sundress. I was sure to get a dirty look from Monica when she picked me up. She hated it when I wore dark colors.

My father’s study is by the front door. I could feel him in there as I climbed down the stairs. He felt nervous. At first, I didn’t realize he was on the phone, but as I landed on the bottom step I heard him say, “I agree, we will take those precautions. I will head out first thing in the morning.”

I walked to his study, wondering what had upset him. When he saw me, he said, “Okay, Ashten, I have to go. Willow is on her way out for the day…yeah…no…okay… tomorrow.”

Dad hung up the phone and smiled at me. He was nervous and trying to hide it.

“What’s going on?”

“Nothing…um, we’re just going to alter our story a little bit.”

“Why?”

“It’s nothing. I’m going to leave in the morning and tell everyone that I’m going to Washington to help an old colleague. Then we’ll tell them that you guys are going to wait for me in New York.”

“Why? Where are we leaving from anyway?”

“We’re going to leave from Montana…look, Willow, we’re about to disappear, we kind of need to confuse our path so no one will worry. Just don’t be very conversational about what we’re doing. Let them assume.”

I grinned from ear to ear. I have never been very conversational. I liked being mysterious.

“Yeah, that shouldn’t be too hard for you,” he commented as his stare captured me. He was still seeing me as his little girl, but trying to force himself to see me as a young adult. At least he was trying to do that. I had to admit I felt the same way he did. I wanted to stay innocent and blind, but life was waiting, and the nest I had grown up in was forced to push me out into an unknown world.

Hearing Monica honk her horn outside, I pulled my big, dark sunglasses over my eyes and smiled at my dad.

“Let the mystery begin,” I said. When he hugged me goodbye, he seemed to ease up on his mood, but he was still nervous.

Monica was shaking her head at me as I climbed into her car. She loved to wear vibrant colors, and today she was wearing a bright yellow dress and make up. She must really like this new guy, Drake.

“Ya know we’re going to the lake, not a funeral.”

“Would you like me to stay here?”

“Yeah, right, this is your last day here. You’re not sulking alone. I knew you were good, but Paris—geeze. I bet you never come back from there.”

I was glad I was wearing my sunglasses. They had never seen me cry, and I didn’t want them to start now. I would miss Monica. I would miss all of them.

We picked up Hannah and Olivia first. Olivia climbed into the back seat with a huge book in her hand. I had to grin. Monica and Hannah looked at each other and rolled their eyes. Secretly, Olivia and I loved to drive them crazy by being unconventional.

We picked up Jessica next. I could feel how sad she was as she walked toward the car. I stepped out to hug her, and she was taken back for a moment. I wasn’t really a hugger.

“Can we please cry later? We’re burning daylight here,” Monica yelled through the window. The lake was only thirty minutes from Jessica’s house. Once we were on the highway, Monica turned down the radio and said, “Okay, ladies, I really think this new guy is the one.” Everyone laughed out loud.

“Stop! I’m serious, wait until you meet him. He, like, has a magnetic force of his own,” Monica continued.

I could feel that she was serious, but there was no way Olivia, Hannah, or Jessica would be convinced she was sincere. All guys Monica liked had something she found alluring about them, something the rest of us could never clearly see.

Monica pulled up in front of one of the trucks that lined the shoreline. I could see Josh and Chase unloading their jet skis. Everyone but Olivia and I rushed to claim a spot on one of the tailgates. I leaned on the side of the car and watched all my friends, trying to burn the memory of their faces and emotions inside me. Olivia leaned up against the car beside me and opened her book to a marked page.

“Good book?” I mocked.

“It’s better than those three,” she said, shaking her head. “It’s going to be a blast when you’re gone.”

“What do you want me to do, stuff you in my suitcase?” I asked, halfway considering asking my father if that were a possibility. It felt so wrong to leave her behind and I couldn’t understand why I felt that way.

Just then, a rather large, very nice red Jeep pulled up to where the other trucks were parked. Chase jumped on the bed of his truck, waving the Jeep in.

“That must be the new guy. Looks like he has money. Hot, too,” Olivia commented in her trademark I’m not impressed tone.

I didn’t answer her, simply because I was perplexed. I couldn’t feel a single thing coming from the Jeep. It was a void, like it was driving itself. I could feel the excitement coming from my friends as they waited for him to park and get out. I squinted my eyes to get a closer look.

I drew a short breath as he stepped out of his jeep and sunlight hit his face. He was extremely hot, tall, and lean built. His dark brown hair was swooshed back out of his face, and his eyes were as black as coal. His best feature was his dominant profile. In real life I’d never met someone as sure of himself as he seemed to be.